My air fryer ham with a pineapple glaze is bursting with irresistible sweet and savory flavor! I can’t get enough of how well the tropical fruits pair with the saltiness of the ham.
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My Easy Recipe for Ham in the Air Fryer
Growing up, ham was always a holiday tradition in my house. My mom would start it early in the morning, slow-cooking the ham in the oven for hours while the whole house filled with the smell of brown sugar and pineapple.
I love doing that for large hams, but a few years back, my family stayed home one year for Easter, and we just didn’t need a huge ham for the 4 of us.,
I figured why not try to make ham in the air fryer? I know it always cooks food so much faster, but it also ended up making it taste so much juicier and just better!
I still even got to use my mom’s famous pineapple glaze on top, and my daughter Leah helped me put the pineapple slices and maraschino cherries on top.
Not only did the air fryer bring the cooking time way down, but the caramelization on the outside was better than ever! Now, this is my holiday time-saving hack – I can prep all my sides while the ham cooks and be ready to serve in under an hour. Less time in the kitchen means more time with my family!
And if you love a good air fryer dinner recipe, try my recipes for air fryer pork chops, air fryer salmon, air fryer pork loin, air fryer short ribs, and air fryer sirloin steak.
Air Fried Ham Ingredients
- Pre-cooked ham – I use between a 2.75lb ham and a 3lb ham. All hams in the US come precooked. I recommend removing any crisper tray in the air fryer if it has one to help it fit.
- Butter – This adds some richness and fat to the sauce. Olive oil will work, but it will be missing a bit of flavor.
- Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar works too to add to the caramelization.
- Honey – Maple syrup is a great substitution for this.
- Pineapple juice – Adds flavor to the glaze while keeping the ham moist. I always use the juice from the canned slices.
- Pineapple slices – Canned slices bring a classic tropical sweetness.
- Maraschino cherries – A nostalgic touch that adds color and a hint of fruity flavor.
How to Make Ham in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, and pineapple juice. Bring it to a simmer, then remove it from the heat and set it aside.
STEP TWO: Lay two large aluminum foil sheets in the air fryer basket, place the precooked ham in the middle, and fold up the sides slightly.
STEP THREE: Brush 1/3 of the glaze over the ham. Fold the foil to cover it, then air fry the ham at 320 degrees F for 20 minutes.
STEP FOUR: Uncover and brush another ⅓ of the glaze on the ham.
STEP FIVE: Skewer maraschino cherries on toothpicks. Hold a pineapple slice on top of the ham, and push the toothpick through into the ham. Cover the ham with foil again and air fry it for 20 more minutes.
STEP SIX: Uncover, brush the remaining glaze on the ham, and air fry the ham uncovered at 380 degrees F for 5-8 minutes, until it browns and reaches 145 degrees F internally.
STEP SEVEN: Let the ham rest for at least 10 minutes before serving with the excess glaze from the foil.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Ham Recipe
- I try to pick a small ham that will fit in my air fryer. If I can only find a larger ham, I’ll take a few slices off the bottom so I can air fry it properly.
- Lining the air fryer with tin foil not only makes cleanup a breeze, but also means I can wrap the ham for most of the cooking time and only cook it uncovered at the very end to caramelize the outside. It also helps contain all the juices to use for a ham gravy.
- Toothpicks are my secret weapon for keeping the pineapple slices and cherries in place so they don’t slide off the ham in the air fryer.
- During the final 5-8 minutes of air frying, I keep a close eye on my ham. My goal is to create that delicious browning and caramelization on the outside before it starts to burn.
- To maximize the flavor, I score the ham before air frying to let the glaze really soak in.
Air Frying Ham Variations and Substitutions
- I like switching up the glaze for the ham to create different flavor profiles. One of my favorite variations is to melt butter with brown sugar and ground cinnamon!
- I sometimes swap the sauce in this recipe with my irresistible pineapple sauce for ham or ham glaze recipe!
- For a sweet and tangy glaze, I’ll simmer together 1 cup of maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and 1 cup of light brown sugar to brush over the ham.
- To create honey ham, I combine orange juice, brown sugar, and honey for a glaze. This is my husband’s favorite version!
- For a richer, more caramelized flavor, I’ll swap out the honey for maple syrup in the glaze. The first time I tried it, I was surprised how well maple syrup and pineapple go together!
What to Serve with Ham in the Air Fryer
For holiday meals, I love serving air fried ham with classics like air fryer cornbread and mashed potatoes. My kids also love when I serve some extra pineapple sauce on the side or drizzled over the ham!
For some quick and easy veggie side dishes, I turn to air fryer carrots and air fryer broccoli. For dessert, my easy carrot cake recipe is always a winner!
Air Fryer Ham FAQs
How to use any Air Fryer ham leftovers
I love how versatile leftover ham is! For easy storage, I wrap the ham in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or place slices in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Some of my favorite ways to use leftover ham are in scrambled eggs, over a salad, in a scalloped potato and ham casserole, in a ham salad, or in ham and cheese roll ups. And my kids always beg me to make hot ham and cheese sandwiches!
How long to cook ham in the air fryer
Since spiral hams are pre-cooked, my goal by cooking ham in the air fryer is to heat it all the way through so the inside is warm and juicy while getting that beautifully crispy caramelization on the outside.
I’ve found that air frying a smaller ham for 40 minutes covered in aluminum foil and then 5-8 minutes uncovered to caramelize the outside is perfect every time!
How to reheat ham in the air fryer
To reheat leftover ham, I start by preheating the air fryer to 320 degrees F. Once hot, I place the cooked ham in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it’s hot and juicy! Sometimes I will even cut them and cook them more like my air fryer ham steaks recipe too.
How can I select the best ham at the supermarket for air frying?
I always look for a fully cooked, bone-in ham with a good fat layer for extra moisture. A smaller, 3-pound ham works best in the air fryer, but if I can’t find any that size, I’ll just cut a few slices off the top of the ham so it fits in the air fryer basket.
Why isn’t my air fryer ham cooking all the way through?
If my ham isn’t heating evenly, it’s usually because the ham is on the bigger side and needs more time to warm all the way through to the center. If needed, I add a little extra cook time in 5-minute increments while the ham is still in the foil, saving the uncovered cooking portion for the last 5-8 minutes.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer boneless pork chops
- Air fryer bacon
- Air fryer whole chicken
- Air fryer hard boiled eggs
- Air fryer flank steak
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Easy Air Fryer Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pound fully cooked ham slightly trimmed to fit in the air fryer
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon pineapple juice from can
- 3 canned pineapple slices
- 3 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Add the butter, brown sugar, honey, and pineapple juice to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer, then remove it from the heat and set it aside.
- Lay two large sheets of aluminum foil in the air fryer basket and set the ham in the middle, folding up the sides slightly.
- Brush the ham with 1/3 of the glaze. Fold the foil over the ham to cover it, then air fry it at 320 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- Fold the foil back and brush another ⅓ of the glaze on the ham.
- Skewer each maraschino cherry on a toothpick. Hold a slice of pineapple on the top of the ham with one hand, and push the toothpick through the hole and into the ham. Cover the ham with the foil and air fry for another 20 minutes.
- Fold the foil back, brush the ham with the remaining glaze, and air fry uncovered for an additional 5-8 minutes at 380 degrees F, until the top is browned and the ham reaches 145 degrees F internally. Allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving with the glaze in the bottom of the foil.
Video
Notes
- Pick a small ham that will fit in the air fryer basket or tray. If needed, remove the crisper tray from the air fryer, or cut a few slices off the bottom of the ham so it fits properly.
- Lining the air fryer with tin foil helps with clean up, helps cook the ham evenly without burning the outsides, and collects the juice.
- During the final 5-8 minutes of air frying, keep a close eye on my ham. It should get a nice deep caramelization, but should not burn.
- To maximize the flavor, score the ham before air frying to let the glaze really soak in.
- To reheat leftovers, cook the ham slices in a preheated air fryer at 320 degrees for 3-5 minutes. Thicker slices may take a few minutes longer.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
